Technology

Minister Vandal announces federal investments to support clean technology advancements across Alberta

Published

2 years ago

July 4, 2024

More than $21 million through PrairiesCan to build on Alberta’s strengths in commercializing innovative technologies that benefit people and communities in the green Prairie economy

CALGARY, AB, July 4, 2024 /CNW/ – As global markets increasingly look for more sustainable ways of doing business, innovators across Alberta have new opportunities to create and commercialize technologies that offer benefits for both the economy and the environment. Alberta is already a national and global leader across key sectors that contribute to Canada’s prosperity—from energy, environment and aerospace to digital technology, life sciences and value-added agriculture.

Through improved coordination across federal departments and in partnership with all levels of government and industry, the Government of Canada is committed to enabling Alberta’s small- and medium-sized businesses to continue capitalizing on these and other opportunities that build on Alberta’s established strengths in creating products and services that the world needs.

Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, announced federal funding of more than $21.9 million for 13 projects to bolster Alberta’s clean technology sector through the commercialization and adoption of new applications that offer environmental benefits across a wide range of industries. Examples of projects receiving support include:

Alberta Innovates is receiving $10 million to launch a production and testing facility to support the commercialization of new technologies that help produce low-cost carbon fibre using bitumen.

The Battery Metals Association of Canada is receiving $850,000 to support growth of the battery metals sector in Western Canada by enhancing collaboration and educating stakeholders.

Carbon Management Canada is receiving $1,168,000 to enhance its emission management technology validation facility where small- and medium-sized businesses can test, refine, and commercialize carbon capture products and technologies.

Kuva Canada is receiving more than $4 million in repayable funding to grow market share of its automated methane monitoring products and software which safely detect methane leaks more accurately, faster and at a lower cost than traditional methane inspection technologies.

The Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) is receiving $174,000 to conduct a comprehensive review of the Métis Housing portfolio energy efficiency plan that will provide prioritized recommendations to increase the energy efficiency of homes and support their Climate Change Action Plan.

Projects receiving funding will have significant environmental and economic benefits across the Prairies, including supporting more than 415 jobs and enabling Alberta firms to take advantage of growing market demand for clean energy solutions. Today’s federal investment leverages about $7 million in additional funding through other levels of government and industry.

This announcement exemplifies key principles of the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, which was tabled in Parliament in December 2023 as a long-term commitment to seize new possibilities to build good-paying jobs in a globally competitive green economy by working collaboratively to build on the region’s strengths in clean resource development, agriculture and manufacturing, and the service industry.

Quotes

“Our government is making strategic investments to build on Alberta’s proven ability to commercialize innovative clean energy solutions that have environmental and economic benefits. Today’s investment in these 13 projects will help ensure that Alberta businesses can capitalize on new opportunities to meet global demand for clean technology know-how and expertise. These investments, in conjunction with enhanced collaboration supported by the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, will help build a stronger and more sustainable economic future across the Prairies.”
–The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan

“Today’s announcement is about making sure Alberta businesses remain at the forefront of Canada’s innovation. These projects will create sustainable jobs and demonstrate Alberta’s proven capacity to create clean technology and energy – pushing us towards great global market opportunities.”
–The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

“Alberta is home to world-leading businesses and entrepreneurs who punch above their weight in innovation and ingenuity. Clean technology and clean energy are fields in which our province is gaining a global reputation for excellence. Today’s investments will further bolster that capability so that we can create a sustainable economy and good jobs for Albertans for years to come.”
– George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview

“We congratulate Alberta Innovates on the success in the Regional Innovation Ecosystems program competition. The award will create markets and opportunities for Alberta that haven’t previously existed. We look forward to the results of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge, which has the potential to create jobs in a new industry, and to attract investment.”
–The Honourable Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta

“This investment of more than $21 million is a vote of confidence in our city’s ability to lead the charge towards net-zero. As the heart of Canada’s energy sector and home to the biggest concentration of Alberta’s cleantech companies, our local businesses are at the forefront of developing technologies that will shape a greener future. This support will undoubtedly accelerate their efforts to bring these solutions to global markets.”
– Jyoti Gondek, Mayor, City of Calgary

“This initiative will support our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve housing sustainability and build internal capacity within Métis Housing, accelerating climate action for our Housing portfolio and ensuring that our staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to drive sustainable change from within our community. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.”
– Jason Chernow, Calgary Elbow Métis District 6 Citizens’ Representative and Secretary of Environment and Climate Change, Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta

“This funding will accelerate the development and commercialization of carbon fibre technologies in Alberta. Carbon fibre can be a key pathway to a net-zero emissions future – dramatically reduce emissions and enable a new Canadian competitive advantage in a low-carbon economy. The facility will allow carbon fibre producers and manufacturers to meet the needs of climate sensitive markets and get a step closer new advanced materials industry.”
– Michael Mahon, PhD, Interim, CEO, Alberta Innovates

“BMAC’s mission is to foster the growth of Canada’s emerging battery industry to develop a strong and sustainable domestic value chain in support of the clean energy transition. As a small non-profit organization with a large mandate, the investment BMAC has received from PrairiesCan has been instrumental in enabling us to connect with Canada’s battery industry and provide key resources and support to aid in its success.”
– Sean De Vries, Executive Director, Battery Metals Association of Canada

“We are thrilled to have been selected for investment by PrairiesCan. This funding will enable us to accelerate growth by investing into increasing our Calgary-based team and commercialising additional features while helping our oil and gas customers see, size and solve their methane emission challenges to meet emission reduction goals.”
– Stefan Bokaemper, President, Kuva Canada

Quick facts

Federal funding for these 13 projects is being provided through PrairiesCan. PrairiesCan programs and services help businesses, not-for-profits and communities grow stronger: its mandate is to support economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the interests of the region in national economic policy, programs, and projects.The Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy is a long-term commitment to work differently; through stronger coordination among federal departments on investments for the Prairies, and closer collaboration with Prairie partners on their priorities for a prosperous and sustainable Prairie economy that respects provincial jurisdictions and supports Indigenous economic reconciliation.In Alberta specifically, the Framework is intended to encourage greater collaboration on regional investment opportunities, such as supporting decarbonization by advancing the hydrogen ecosystem and critical minerals opportunities; growing a sustainable agriculture sector by catalyzing more value-added activity and reducing environmental impact; and strengthening our support for community economic development capacity and initiatives, especially in Indigenous and rural communities.

Backgrounder

PrairiesCan is investing over $21 million for 13 projects in Alberta through several federal programs, including the Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative; the Business Scale-up and Productivity program; and the Regional Innovation Ecosystems program. These investments are expected to support over 415 jobs and help Alberta organizations seize opportunities resulting from the integration and development of clean technologies. Adopting and commercializing new technologies offers the potential of environmental and economic benefits across a wide range of industries.

Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (AICEI) – $926,450

The AICEI supports renewable energy generation or energy efficiency projects that are led by, or for the benefit of, First Nation and Métis communities in Alberta. AICEI is funded through the Strategic Partnerships Initiative which is led by Indigenous Services Canada to provide a way for federal partners to coordinate their efforts, reduce administrative burden and pool resources in support of Indigenous communities. Today, PrairiesCan announced AICEI support for four projects:

Cold Lake First Nations ($124,000)
Complete a feasibility study to determine the suitability of a geothermal system to heat and cool a new pre-construction events centre as well as the existing Casino Dene and Hotel Dene.Métis Nation of Alberta ($174,000)
As part of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Climate Change Action Plan, conduct a comprehensive review of the MNA housing portfolio and develop a report which gives prioritized recommendations to increase the energy efficiency of homes.
Neyaskweyak Group of Companies Inc. (Ermineskin Cree Nation) ($373,450)
Complete a feasibility study to support the approval and construction of a new solar farm in Ermineskin Cree Nation.Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) ($255,000)
As part of a partnership between SAIT’s Green Building Technologies research division and the Alberta Native Friendship Centre Association (ANFCA), upgrade ANFCA Friendship Centres in Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, and St. Paul with energy efficient building systems to reduce emissions and operating costs.

Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) Program – $5,986,395

The BSP program supports high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of two years. Today, PrairiesCan announced BSP support for two projects:

Kuva Canada ($4,079,895)
Expand marketing, operations, and product development initiatives to grow market share of its automated methane monitoring products and software which safely detect methane leaks more accurately, faster and at a lower cost than traditional methane inspection technologies.RJ Maclean Tank Services ($1,906,500)
Incorporate product improvements and launch marketing initiatives to increase international sales of its robotic tank cleaning system which uses less water and produces less waste than traditional industrial storage tank cleaning processes.

Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) Program – $15,070,112

The RIE program helps create, grow, and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems that support business needs to facilitate innovation. Through the RIE program, targeted investments in not-for-profit organizations support businesses in priority sectors to innovate, grow and compete globally. The RIE program also promotes inclusive growth by helping underrepresented groups more fully participate in the innovation economy. Today, PrairiesCan announced RIE support for seven projects:

Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance ($500,000)
Lead stakeholder engagement sessions and technology demonstrations to increase the adoption of energy reducing technologies and support collaboration in Alberta’s energy industry.Alberta Innovates ($10,000,000)
Establish a specialized production and testing facility to commercialize technologies that convert bitumen into carbon fibre at a significantly lower cost than traditional carbon fibre manufacturing processes.
Alberta Motor Transport Association and the University of Alberta ($1,400,000)
Expand hydrogen heavy vehicle trials and demonstrations across Alberta, including in rural areas and Indigenous communities. This latest funding builds on PrairiesCan’s previously announced funding of $3 million, bringing total PrairiesCan funding to $4.4M.Battery Metals Association of Canada ($850,000)
Support growth of the battery metals sector in Western Canada by enhancing collaboration and educating stakeholders.Carbon Management Canada ($1,168,000)
Purchase and install new equipment to enhance its emission management technology validation facility where small- and medium-sized businesses can test, refine, and commercialize carbon capture products and technologies. This latest funding builds on PrairiesCan’s previously announced funding of $1,573,500, bringing total PrairiesCan funding to $2,741,500.Pembina Institute ($752,112)
Establish a new Centre for Carbon Dioxide Removal based in Calgary which will provide resources and workshops to advance a market for innovative technologies that remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere.Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada ($400,000)
Provide technical, business and marketing support to help businesses in Alberta export their clean technology innovations to international markets.

Associated links

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)The Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy Green Prairie Economy

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SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada

Technology

Technosylva Introduces First-of-Its-Kind Urban Conflagration Modeling for the Built Environment

Published

8 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

Significant enhancements deliver critical fire intelligence in the wildland-urban interface, helping utilities and emergency agencies protect lives and infrastructure

LA JOLLA, Calif., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Technosylva, the global leader in wildfire and extreme weather science and technology, today launched major enhancements to its urban conflagration model that predicts how fires spread through populated areas and quantifies risk to buildings. The model addresses a key limitation of traditional wildfire science: much of it has focused on wildland areas, classifying urban areas as “non-burnable.” This limitation slows fire simulations at the community boundary, leaving fire agencies, utilities, and insurers with limited forward visibility into how fire will behave in populated communities.

Technosylva’s capabilities provide two notable wildfire modeling enhancements. First, the urban conflagration model simulates how fires will behave in the wildland urban interface (WUI), where characteristics such as structure density, vegetation encroachment, and fuel types result in fundamental differences compared to wildland fires. Second, the Dynamic Building Loss Factor provides unprecedented insight into the vulnerability of structures. This information enables utilities and agencies to undertake appropriate mitigations, such as asset hardening, undergrounding lines, vegetation management, and community education and engagement.

“Recent devastating fires have made one thing clear: populated areas face disproportionate impacts—and require greater focus to protect them,” said Bryan Spear, CEO of Technosylva. “Traditional wildfire models were designed for wildland fuels and fire behavior. Our approach builds on that foundation by showing how fires actually move through communities. By more accurately modeling the risks and consequences, utilities and fire agencies can make smarter, risk-based decisions to mitigate wildfire risks, communicate threats, maintain power, and better protect the communities they serve.”

According to a 2023 article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences [1], “community fire destruction has become a national crisis.” Recent disasters in Lahaina, Gatlinburg, and Marshall show why. Many communities aren’t built to withstand ignition, and once a structure catches fire, it can quickly spread flames and embers to neighboring buildings. The result is fast-moving, large-scale destruction with lasting impacts on entire communities.

Key Technology Advances Addressing Critical Industry Needs

Technosylva’s unique model was trained on a comprehensive database of WUI fires, examining environmental conditions, weather patterns, and fuel characteristics to understand the drivers of urban conflagration. One of the primary challenges in modeling fire behavior in the built environment is a limited number of historical fires upon which to draw conclusions and build scalable models. Technosylva’s modeling approach has overcome these challenges, effectively capturing the complex interactions between wildfire and the built environment.

Notable enhancements to Technosylva’s modeling approach include:

WUI Fuel Mapping: Development of 12 unique WUI fuel types that more accurately reflect the manner in which the infrastructure in the built environment becomes a fuel source for the fire. This is critical for understanding how the characteristics of the built environment impact the rate of spread, intensity, and speed of fires in the WUI.Dynamic Building Loss Factor: Machine learning models to capture expected building loss, leveraging characteristics such as structure characteristics and building age that drive vulnerability. Combined with assessments of topography, vegetation, and other building properties such as density and proximity to roads, this intelligence identifies not just whether a community is threatened, but the types of structures and conditions that result in the highest risk.Characterization of Fire Behavior Under Extreme Conditions: Calibrated to accurately reflect urban encroachment and fire spread rates in WUI environments—particularly during the most extreme events. Capturing fires that have historically been labeled as “outliers” is critical for utilities and communities to understand and prepare for potential worst-case scenarios.High-Resolution Weather Integration: Captures localized wind patterns, humidity gradients, and temperature variations at a scale matched to “neighborhood-level” fire behavior.

Large-scale urban fires were once rare, but in recent years their frequency and severity has increased dramatically. When wildfires reach communities, the “fuel” is no longer just vegetation—it’s homes and businesses. In Lahaina alone, a single urban conflagration caused an estimated $4 to $6 billion in economic losses. The consequences can be devastating for both life and property. Technosylva’s modeling has evolved to capture how fires spread through the built environment, enabling utilities and agencies to make more informed, risk-based decisions.

[1] https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_journals/2023/rmrs_2023_calkin_d001.pdf

About Technosylva
Technosylva is the leading provider of wildfire and extreme weather modeling, risk mitigation, and operational response software. Technosylva’s market-leading solutions, enhanced by AI and machine learning capabilities, provide real-time and predictive insights into developing wildfire and extreme weather risks to support electric utility, insurance, and government agency customers. Founded in 1997, Technosylva has offices in La Jolla, CA, León, Spain, and Calgary, Canada. Learn more at www.Technosylva.com.

Contacts
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Senior Digital Marketing Manager
412620@email4pr.com

Colin Mahoney
Mahoney Communications Group
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SOURCE Technosylva

Technology

Parks Associates: Roku (28%) and Samsung (23%) Dominate Connected TV Platforms, Controlling Access to Streaming Audiences in the US Market

Published

8 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

Data shows Amazon, LG, and Vizio hold smaller shares as platform control drives content discovery, advertising, and monetization

PLANO, Texas, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Parks Associates’ latest US household research from the Streaming Video Tracker shows the connected TV platform market remains concentrated among a small group of leading operating systems, with Roku OS (28%) and Samsung’s Tizen OS (23%) accounting for the largest share of usage in US broadband households.

The firm’s data shows Amazon Fire TV, LG webOS, and Vizio SmartCast maintain mid-tier positions, while platforms such as Apple tvOS, gaming consoles, and Android TV hold smaller shares. This distribution reinforces the role of smart TV operating systems as the primary gateway for streaming content and services.

“Control of the platform layer is central to competition in the connected TV market,” said Michael Goodman, Director, Entertainment, Parks Associates. “Operating systems determine what content consumers see, how services are positioned, and how advertising is delivered.”

Recent trends highlighted in the research include:

Platform concentration: A small number of operating systems account for the majority of CTV (connected TV) usage, limiting visibility for services without strong distribution partnerships.Stable market share: Platform rankings have remained consistent over time, with Roku showing modest growth and Samsung maintaining a strong installed base.Advertising control: Leading platforms manage ad inventory, data collection, and targeting, shaping monetization across the ecosystem.Discovery and engagement: The TV OS plays a key role in recommendations, search, and user experience, influencing viewing behavior.

The data highlights the importance of platform ecosystems, as control of the TV operating system impacts content distribution, advertising revenue, and consumer engagement across the CTV market. With the growing role of AI in the TV OS for search and personalization, the importance of platform ecosystems is only going to grow in the coming years.

For more information, contact Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein. Request information about Parks Associates’ Streaming Video Tracker.

Parks Associates will host the ninth annual Future of Video at the Marina del Rey Marriott in California, November 17-18.

About Parks Associates
Parks Associates helps companies identify new opportunities, refine strategy, and accelerate growth in connected technology markets through data-driven insights and industry expertise. With more than 40 years of experience, the firm delivers proprietary consumer and industry research, market forecasts, and strategic analysis that guide business decisions across personal, connected home, small business, and commercial technology ecosystems. Parks Associates supports clients in navigating evolving markets including AI, security, smart home, broadband, entertainment, energy, multifamily, smart buildings, and connected health.

The firm also fosters industry growth and collaboration by convening thousands of leaders each year through its flagship executive conferences, including CONNECTIONS™, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. Learn more at https://www.parksassociates.com.

Follow Parks Associates on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein
Parks Associates
972.490.1113
412621@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Parks Associates

Technology

FINBOA Named Double Finalist for 2026 Banking Tech Awards

Published

9 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

FINBOA recognized in ‘Best of RegTech’ and ‘Best-as-a-Service’ categories

HOUSTON, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FINBOA, Inc., a leader in process automation solutions for regulatory compliance in financial institutions, is proud to announce it has been named a finalist in two categories for the 2026 Banking Tech Awards: Excellence in Tech Awards. The company was recognized in the Best RegTech Solution category for its FINBOA BI-Disputes solution and in the Best “as-a-Service” Solution category for its FINBOA Treasury Onboarding solution. As a shortlist finalist, FINBOA’s software has been identified as an innovation leader in the U.S. Banking and RegTech space.

“Being named a finalist in two categories at the Banking Tech Awards is a strong validation of our mission to simplify and modernize complex banking operations,” said Raj Singal, CEO of FINBOA. “FINBOA Treasury Onboarding and BI-Disputes solutions were built to solve real challenges our bank and credit union clients face every day; such as eliminating manual effort, improving regulatory compliance and timely access to information to guide decision-making. We’re proud to see both solutions recognized for their impact and innovation.”

The FINBOA Treasury Onboarding solution was selected as a finalist in the Best “as-a-Service” category for providing intuitive automated workflows to replace manual, paper-based, and fragmented processes for new account setups. The solution accelerates account activation, shortens time to revenue, and enhances the commercial client experience, without requiring core system integration. Its zero-integration deployment model enables financial institutions to modernize quickly while minimizing operational disruption. FINBOA clients using the solution have noted the time-saving impact of process automation on their workflows. For example, First Oklahoma Bank’s Senior Vice President, Kristy Smith noted, “Within just two months, we transformed our Treasury Onboarding from a slow, manual process—relying on paper and email—to a fully digitized workflow. The feedback from both customers and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. FINBOA made that possible.”

FINBOA BI-Disputes, recognized in the RegTech category, extends the value of FINBOA Payment Disputes solution by transforming dispute data into clear, actionable insights through an intuitive interface that eliminates time-consuming manual reporting and provides instant visibility into detailed views of dispute information. The solution enables stakeholders to quickly generate audit and board-ready reports while strengthening compliance by tracking Reg E deadlines, provisional credits, and resolution requirements. Advanced fraud analytics provide insights on emerging trends and high-risk merchants, empowering financial institutions to make more confident decisions, reduce risk, and optimize dispute management performance.

The 2026 Banking Tech Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the use of IT in financial services worldwide. Winners will be announced on May 28, 2026 at a special awards event in New York.

About FINBOA

FINBOA provides intelligent process automation software to banks, credit unions and service providers to simplify compliance processing by eliminating manual systems. Solutions include FINBOA Payment Disputes, FINBOA BI-Disputes, FINBOA Exception Management, and FINBOA Treasury Onboarding. FINBOA delivers transformative software proven to enable institutional growth by reducing operational costs and risk. Headquartered in Houston, FINBOA is trusted to help over 500 financial institutions nationwide achieve targeted business outcomes and peace of mind. Learn more at www.finboa.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X social media platforms.

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SOURCE FINBOA